Want a fun, sporty vehicle?: Infiniti's Q60 Coupe might fit the bill

Some are meant to lug around the family and run errands. Others are more focused on fuel economy and might be your work vehicle. Then, thereís the fun category -- the type of vehicle you just love to drive.

I recently tested out a sporty little Infiniti Q60 Coupe Journey (a rebadging of the formerly named G37 Coupe from infiniti), and it definitely falls into the third category, and Iím back with a full report on my experience with the vehicle.

LOOKS
This is a slick-looking two-door coupe that has a luxury look and feel inside and out. It features 18-inch alloy wheels, leather-appointed heated seats, power mirrors and much more.

Advertisement

Seatingwise, if two folks are up front and the seats are pushed back to accommodate leg room up front, nobody other than a very short person/child (or a car seat) will fit in the back; this type of vehicle is best for cruising around with 2 people and just throwing your things in the back, as it will be a tight squeeze if you try to get people in back.

You can fold down the rear seatbacks to increase the limited trunk space and allow storage of longer objects.

ENGINE, PERFORMANCE, MPG
The Q60 Coupe Journey features 330 horsepower from its 3.7-liter V6 engine, which was quite capable and left a strong impression on me.

Overall the Q60 was a blast to drive, and I put it to a good test driving around the Irish Hills area of Michigan with its windy country roads. In a vehicle like the Q60, you feel able to squeeze through and around other cars as you wish, due to its quickly getting up to speed from a stop and its responsive braking and overall handling.

The sport-tuned suspension and steering (part of the optional sport package my test vehicle had) helped make the Q60 so maneuverable that it quickly obeyed my every command.

Thereís a reason these are called sporty cars -- itís so fun to drive them it feels like youíre playing a game.

My vehicleís transmission was a seven-speed automatic, but there is a manual version of the Q60 coupe offered, too, though it is more expensive (there are several trim levels on the Q60, the Journey being the most affordable).

During my time in the Q60, I was getting low 20s mpg. Official numbers are 19 city/27 highway.

TECH FEATURES, OTHER OPTIONS
You get plenty of standard features on the Q60 Coupe Journey, including:

Cruise control wonít engage when itís too slippery out -- which is a good thing.

TARGET AUDIENCE, BOTTOM LINE
You definitely get a luxury feel when driving the Infiniti Q60 Coupe Journey, and its performance and responsive on the road are a thrill to be a part of.

But when you factor in space limitations and the price, realistically the audience is going to be small. Unless youíre an empty nester who just wants to drive a fun car all the time (and doesnít have to transport the grandkids anywhere), this type of car is rarely going to be the first choice for a main vehicle.

Youíll get some young folks without families who have some money to spend, or middle-aged and older folks who want a fun, second car to go along with their more practical ride and use it on the weekends.

If you fit in either of those groups, the Q60 Coupe Journey from Infiniti is one of the better upscale sporty rides on the market for you to consider, though it has stiff competition from other sports car stalwarts like Audi, BMW and Benz.

Matt Myftiu can be reached at matt.myftiu@oakpress.com or follow him on Twitter @MattMyftiu.

===========================================
Vehicle: 2014 Infiniti Q60 Coupe Journey
Base price: $40,950
Price as tested: $50,405
Best feature: Fun, sporty, speedy drive; great handling
Rating: 3.5 out of five stars
Who will want this vehicle?: Anyone looking for a fun weekend vehicle to drive away from traffic in, who doesnít have a lot of people/cargo to carry around
===========================================